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Iowa State Names (Etymology of Names)

Iowa Name Etymology and State Nicknames

Midwest

Iowa
is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States, a region sometimes called the "American
Heartland". Iowa is bordered by the Mississippi
River on the east and the Missouri River and the Big Sioux River on the west;
it is the only US state whose eastern and western borders are formed entirely
by rivers. Iowa is bordered by
Wisconsin and
Illinois to the east,
Missouri to the south,
Nebraska and
South Dakota to the west, and
Minnesota to the north.

The name Iowa comes from Ioway, the French word for the Bah-kho-je Indian
tribe that lived in the area.

Iowa nicknames

Hawkeye State

Tall Corn State

Origin of Iowa State Name

The state of Iowa, originally a territory of Wisconsin west of the Mississippi
River, was named after the Iowa River. The Iowa River was named after the Iowa
Indians who lived in the territory. The tribal name "Ayuxwa" was spelled
by the French as "Ayoua" and by the English as "Ioway." "Ayuxwa"
means "one who puts to sleep."

Probably from an Indian word meaning "this is the place" or "the
Beautiful Land"

Iowa Nicknames

Hawkeye State

The nickname, Hawkeye State, was adopted early in the state's
history. First suggested by James G. Edwars as a tribute to Indian leader Chief
Black Hawk. Two Iowa promoters from Burlington are believed to have popularized
the name.

Tall Corn State

A more popular and recent (but also only semi-official) nickname is the Corn State, which has appeared on the state license plates.

Iowa Slogans

Fields of Opportunity

Life Changing

Iowa Postal Code

IA

Iowa Resident's Name

Iowan- Official (recommended by US GPO)

State Names

The etymologies of some US state names are more obvious than
others, derived from the Spanish or French tongue. Though, more than half of the US state
names come from Native American tribal languages, with several still a mystery to scholars
and historians.